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Millennials wrote off tax accounting. Now Gen Z has a reason to give it a second look, as six-figure earnings and a talent shortage have resulted in a spike in salaries for tax experts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tax work has earned two spots on Monster\u2019s seasonal jobs list. The company\u2019s 2026 Seasonal Hiring Index<\/a> names tax associates and tax experts among 13 titles that saw significant seasonal posting activity in 2025. The primary busy season<\/a> for tax accountants runs from late January through April 15, spurred by individual and corporate tax deadlines.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSeasonal work is more than a short-term paycheck; it\u2019s often the start of a longer career journey,\u201d the Monster report said. It added that many companies use seasonal roles as a testing ground for permanent ones.<\/p>\n According to ZipRecruiter<\/a>, the average salary for U.S. tax associates is $33.40 an hour. The same site states that tax experts make $45.67 <\/a>an hour in the U.S. <\/p>\n Tax jobs face a significant talent shortage, which is creating an opening for newcomers. The U.S. faced<\/a> a shortage of 340,000 tax accountants in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, and employers are still struggling to recruit.\u00a0<\/p>\n Companies surveyed by Personiv<\/a>, a global finance and accounting outsourcing company, reported<\/a> an average of 17 unfilled accounting and finance positions in 2026, compared with five a year earlier.<\/p>\n For job seekers, a seasonal tax role could lead to more opportunities than a temporary paycheck. It could be the first move toward a full-time career with six-figure earning potential, Fortune<\/a> reports.\u00a0<\/p>\n The catch with tax accounting is that the seasonal hiring rush may already be passing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Anyone waiting until the holidays to start applying for seasonal tax roles risks missing the prime recruiting window.\u00a0<\/p>\n Monster\u2019s analysis found that seasonal job postings rose 44% between August and September last year, and peaked in October. By November, posting activity fell 24% from October.\u00a0That indicates that the prime hiring time for these roles may have already passed. <\/p>\n Also, the bigger paychecks in accounting come with a higher bar to entry. Tax accountants typically need at least a bachelor\u2019s degree. Meanwhile, earning a certified public accountant (CPA) license can open the door to better-paid roles, but requires an extensive investment of time and money.\u00a0CPAs provide a range<\/a> of services, including tax preparation and financial planning. <\/p>\n Investopedia reported<\/a> total compensation of up to $200,000 for CPAs with four years of experience under their belt.<\/p>\n For young people looking for work, even a temporary position could offer a paycheck and experience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, only 53.8% of young people (ages 16 to 24) were employed in July. The youth unemployment rate was 9.1% that month. <\/p>\n Additionally, the transition from college to the workforce has become more difficult. A survey from career services site Kickresume found that just 12% of recent graduates secured full-time jobs before graduation this year, compared with nearly 40% of earlier graduates.<\/p>\n AI is adding to that uncertainty. Goodwill CEO Steve Preston said<\/a> in an interview with Fortune last year that automation is reducing entry-level opportunities, which are the jobs where young workers traditionally gain experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n Seasonal openings aren\u2019t always labeled that way.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2025, fewer than 3% of seasonal job postings included \u201cseasonal,\u201d \u201choliday,\u201d or \u201ctemporary\u201d in the title, per Monster. Searching for a specific role, such as \u201ctax associate,\u201d could uncover opportunities that a search for \u201choliday jobs\u201d misses.<\/p>\n Monster also recommends widening the search across roles and industries.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA seasonal opening can be hiding among jobs that, by title alone, look like ordinary year-round positions,\u201d the report indicated.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Millennials wrote off tax accounting. Now Gen Z has a reason to give it a second look, as six-figure earnings and a talent shortage have resulted in a spike in salaries for tax experts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tax work has earned two spots on Monster\u2019s seasonal jobs list. The company\u2019s 2026 Seasonal Hiring Index<\/a> names tax associates and tax experts among 13 titles that saw significant seasonal posting activity in 2025. The primary busy season<\/a> for tax accountants runs from late January through April 15, spurred by individual and corporate tax deadlines.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSeasonal work is more than a short-term paycheck; it\u2019s often the start of a longer career journey,\u201d the Monster report said. It added that many companies use seasonal roles as a testing ground for permanent ones.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe catch<\/h2>\n
How to find seasonal job postings<\/h2>\n
Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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